Financial Controller

Financial Controller 

The Business

Based in the heart of the Cotswold countryside in Evesham, Kanes Foods is a family-owned producer of high quality salads and dressings, prepared vegetables, noodles, stir fry mixes and sauces.

Operating from a single, multi-factory manufacturing site and generating revenues in excess of £110m, Kanes Foods customers include some of the largest national retail multiples plus food service providers.  The business is well-invested with a robust business model and USPs that provide real competitive advantage.

Operating in a challenging market-place, its strategy is to build on long established existing relationships and widen its customer base, exploiting opportunities in adjacent or complimentary channels to better utilise assets.  With a track record of product development and innovation, that growth will also involve new products to meet the demand for high-quality fresh and healthy meal solutions for all occasions.  As consumers expect products at ever-more attractive prices, a further aspect of the businesses strategy is a focus on efficiency and achieving a cost base which supports a high quality offering, while enabling the business to remain competitive.  With a strong balance sheet, the business is well-placed to take advantage of investment opportunities that may arise in the sector where these can enhance shareholder value.

The Role

Following the planned retirement of the current Financial Controller, there is a requirement to appoint a replacement to support the leadership team as it embarks on the next phase of its strategy.  Key elements and objectives of the role will include:

• Managing and developing a small, well-established Finance team;
• Empowering Finance to provide a more business partnering service, both supporting and challenging the management team in delivering its results;
• Maximising finance and other business systems to develop a suite of management information to serve the developing needs of the leadership team;
• Develop the governance framework within the business, including rigorous support to financial decision-making on investment and other commercial activities;
• Play a key role in setting and implementing the strategy for the function, including team building and development to meet its objectives;
• Introduction of more systematic profit and cash forecasting tools and processes as the business executes its strategic plan;
• Drive standardisation and efficiency of various business processes with a view to improving the production and accuracy of business information, which may involve system changes including installation of an ERP system.

The Person

Whilst a sizeable business, Kanes retains its family-owned culture and its way of operating strikes a balance between disciplined management and decision-making while ensuring it remains agile in making those decisions.  As such, the person filling this role needs to know what good looks like in terms of monitoring, reporting and compliance, while maintaining a pragmatic approach and outlook.  Specific requirements are:

• Professionally qualified, with a strong academic track record;
• Demonstrable experience in a similar role, with an understanding of privately-owned businesses;
• Comfortable playing a role as a partner alongside line management, supporting them in the delivery of their financial performance;
• Pragmatic, but business-focused approach;
• Ability to see and execute opportunities to improve processes both in Finance arena and the wider business;
• A self-starter, willing to commit to a plan of action and carry it out, seeking direction where appropriate;
• Attention to detail and willing to get hands dirty where necessary, particularly when managing through the early stages of change;
• Systems skills, not necessarily as a technical expert, but as a knowledgeable-user who knows what good looks like.  Specifically, should understand processes in and around business systems and how these affect the delivery of the management information needed by the business;
• Competent as regards financial accounting, the key aspects of which are disciplines associated with reconciliations and balance sheet control;
• Some experience of M&A would be advantageous;
• Experience of food is not essential, although understanding of FMCG will be important;
• ERP experience is important and systems implementation or development would be an added benefit;
• Ability to introduce and play a governance role across key commercial decisions.

For more information on the role or to apply with your CV to our retained consultant James Heffernan, please click the apply button below. Please note any direct or third party CVs will be forwarded to SF Group.